ROSE

Two classes later, I finally earned my lunch escape. As I stumbled across campus towards the commons, Dimitri fell into step behind me, not particularly godlike-unless you counted his godly good looks.

"I suppose you saw what happened in Stan's class?"

"Yes."

"And do you think it was unfair?"

"A bit. Was he right? Do you think you were fully prepared to protect Vasilisa?"

I looked down at the ground. "I kept her alive," I mumbled.

"How did you fight against your classmates today?"

The question was mean. I didn't answer and I knew I didn't need to. I'd had another training after Stan's, and no doubt Dimitri had watched me get beat up there too. Speaking of, I haven't saw Lena since that incident with Stan's coffee mug shattering.

"Have you seen Lena?" I asked. "She wasn't in my last two classes..."

"She's in different classes. Some with Moroi." Dimitri said, slowing down his pace to match mines.

I raised my eyebrow. "Like she's in classes that's just for Moroi? But she's a dhampir-"

"Yes she is indeed dhampir but remember...she's a special case."

"Oh right with the "moving things with her mind" bit." I shrug. "Well guess it does make since. I mean she can pass for a Moroi. She was so kick ass in first period."

"You're strong and fast by nature. You just need to keep yourself trained. Didn't you play any sports while you were gone?"

"Sure," I shrug. "Now and then."

"You didn't join any teams?"

"Lena was in a swimming club. As for me? Too much work. If I'd wanted to practice that much, I'd have stayed here."

He gave me an exasperated look. "You'll never be able to really protect the princess if you don't hone your skills. You'll always be lacking."

After chatting with Victor Dashkov and dealing with Aaron's doll-like girlfriend, me and Lissa went look for Lena after taking Lissa to the feeders.

"Have you seen Lena?" I ask Lissa.

"She was in my Basics of Elemental Control class." Lissa answers. "There were a lot of stares. A lot of stares. Lots of questions about where we were. Whispering."

"Same. The guys were more concern if Lena was a Moroi or dhampir." I told her.

"I saw Jesse Zeklos hitting on her. And she almost gave him a black eye." Lissa explains and then laughs.

I had almost forgotten about Jesse. He was from one of the twelve Royal families of the Moroi. We use to have a thing before I busted me and Lissa out of the Academy.

"You should've seen her in my class with Stan Alto after he embarrassed me in front of everyone." I said. "Besides why are you in elemental basics? That's a sophomore class."

She eyed me. "Because seniors take specialized class."

We fell silent at that. All Moroi wield elemental magic. It was one of the things that differentiated living vampires from Strigoi, the dead vampires. Moroi viewed magic as a gift. It was part of their souls and connected them to the world.

A long time ago, they had used their magic openly, averting natural disasters and helping with things like food and water production. They don't really do that anymore but the magic was still inside their blood. Academies like St. Vlad's help the Moroi control their magic.

All Moroi specialized in each element: earth, fire, water, or air. Not specializing was like not reaching puberty .

"Is Ms. Carmack still teaching that? What did she say?

"She said she's not worried. She thinks it'll come."

"Do you-did you tell her about-?"

"No of course not." Lissa shook her head.

We drop the subject. It was one we thought about a lot but rarely spoke of.

Lena was at a empty table when we got to the commons. Well actually I take that back. She wasn't alone anymore when Natalie Dashkov, Victor's daughter and Lissa's "cousin" sat down with her. Natalie's nice but she is the least interesting person in the world. I hope she's not boring Lena to death.

"Lissa!" cries Natalie as she threw her arms around us. Like Lissa she had the same jade green eyes but her hair was jet-black let her father's.

"You're back! I knew you would be! Everyone said you were gone forever, but I never believe that. I knew you couldn't stay away. Why did you go? There are so many stories about why you left!"

Lissa and I exchanged glances as Natalie rambles on. "Oh by the way have you met Lena Eades? She told me she just transferred here-"

"Nat, we met Lena already." I told her. That seems to keep her silent. But only for a moment.

"Have the rumors about dhampirs going missing? Well it's just only the female dhampirs that gone missing-"

I had to cut her off. Female dhampirs going missing? "Wait Natalie. What do you mean?" This information can't be true. Yeah there's been a shortage of guardians, especially with female guardians.

"Where did you get this information from?" Lissa asks.

"Daddy told me about it." Natalie said. "And apparently two girls went missing about a couple weeks ago. from here."

"How is that possible?" Lena questions her. "I thought this was a safe place."

"They don't know how but it could have been an inside job."

I was about to question Natalie more but I notice Lena was clutching onto her head, looking like she was in unbearable pain.

"Lena, what's wrong?"

"Nothing it's a headache." she said quickly. "I have to go." She got up from her seat next to Natalie and quickly took off running.

LENA

The voices in my head were getting louder. I felt them looking at me. I heard them talking about me. I ran in the halls, not caring where I went I just had to get away from the voices. Then I bump into this black haired guy when I made a quick turn at the right corner.

"Hey." he exclaims.

"Sorry." I said. I look up at him and noticed his eyes was the same shade of blue as mines. And our hair was the same color: black. I could tell he was a moroi because he somewhat smirked at me and his fangs showed.

"I know who you are." he said. "The "dhampir" everyone's talking about."

I rolled my eyes at him. I was getting annoyed that people were questioning my species. "I am an dhampir." I gritted.

"No need for the hostility. Trust me I know your pain." he said, sounding somewhat sympathetic.

"Oh really?"

He shrugs casually. "People don't like to hang around me."

"Why?"

"Might as well tell you before you hear the bullshit rumors." he said. "My parents went Strigoi."

"Okay? I don't see why that's a-"

"They turn Strigoi willingly."